Glen Wilwerding

Glen J. Wilwerding, age 80 of Freeport, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at the VA Heath Care Systems in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 23 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church in Freeport. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Glen Joseph Wilwerding was born April 28, 1935 in Freeport, Minnesota to John and Jeanette (Wittkop) Wilwerding. He graduated from Melrose High School and later attended the Adult Vocational Ag Program in Melrose. Glen served in the U.S. Army, enlisting during the Korean Conflict. On August 16, 1958 he married Elizabeth "Betty" Vogel at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in St. Paul. Glen was employed by Freeport Creamery. In 1961, he started farming in Millwood Township which developed into Wilwerding Dairy. Glen and Betty also owned and operated a Gold'n Plump broiler barn for 25 years.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, Freeport Lions Club, St. Peter's Court 1556 Catholic Order of Foresters, and St. Joseph's Men's Society. Glen enjoyed fishing, playing cards, traveling, dancing, and was a member of the Army choir.

Glen was able to enjoy his bucket list trip to Alaska with a group of family members just prior to his passing. His main priority in his life was his family and faith. Glen cherished the time he spent with them, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his children, John (Mary Ann) Wilwerding of Freeport, Catherine (Richard) Sand of Freeport, Joseph (Kori) Wilwerding of Freeport, Laura (Gary) Goebel of Albany, James (Sarah Overby) Wilwerding of Freeport, Joyce (Bruce) Meyer of Cold Spring, Mary Sue (Michael) DeVries of Albertville, Jerald (Amy) Wilwerding of Freeport, and Sara (Noah) Van Beck of Freeport; 29 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren with two on the way; and sisters, Phyllis Anderson of Columbia Heights, Betty Atkinson of Freeport, and Celia Henkels of Herron Lake.

Glen was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Wilwerding on April 5, 1992; parents; and an infant daughter, Mary Elizabeth Wilwerding.

Serving as casket bearers will be Ryan Sand, Nathan Sand, Josh Wilwerding, Justin Wilwerding, Luke Wilwerding, Andrew Wilwerding, Samuel Meyer, and Spencer Van Beck. Cross bearer will be Thatcher Van Beck and scripture bearer will be Thomas DeVries. Mass servers will be Quentin Van Beck, Jeremiah Wilwerding and Theodore DeVries. Eulogy will be read by Sara Van Beck, Christina Sand, and Michael DeVries and readers will be Rosemary Flanders and Gary Goebel. Serving as gift bearers will be Jessica Wilwerding, Jackie Wilwerding, and Rebecca Wendroth and the petitions will be read by Meredith Meyer and Katy Ann Wilwerding.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart School.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Freeport.